Every year from October 15 to December 7 is Medicare’s Open Enrollment. This is the time you can switch from Medicare to Medicare Advantage, and vice versa. You can also change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plans.

Just because Medicare OEP is over, does not mean you do not have other options to help you save money.

Time flies and things happen, and before you know it, open enrollment has ended. You may have not gotten the chance to look over plans, change plans to meet your needs, or did not have enough time to research your options. But luckily if you missed open enrollment, there are still some options for you to choose from.

Medicare Advantage OEP

Beginning 2019, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 to March 31 every year. During this period, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans, or disenroll from their Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare. If you choose to switch back to Original Medicare, then you can enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan. Do some research to make sure whichever way to choose to go that the network covers your doctors.

Medicare Special Enrollment Period, SEP

If you missed the open enrollment period, you can qualify for Medicare Special Enrollment Period. Here are the circumstances to qualify for SEP:

Moved out of plan’s service area

Lost employer-based health insurance

Used to be eligible for Medicaid and now you are not

Your plan is ending its contract with Medicare

Moving back to US after living outside of the US

5 Star Plans

In 2010, the Health care Reform Law created a star rating system for Medicare Plans. One star being poor, and 5 stars being the best. Every fall the ratings are updated for these plans. Beneficiaries can enroll in a Medicare Advantage 5-star plan once a year from December 8 to November 30th.

Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare Supplement Plans can help you pay for Medicare Part B bills that may be hard for you to pay. These plans are sold by private insurance companies, and you can always consider buying one as long as you are 65 years old. There are 10 different supplement plans to choose from, some covering more than others. If you consider buying one outside of the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period (the 6 month period beginning the month you turn 65), then you may be subject to paying more for pre-existing conditions.

Another option you can take is to ask your doctor for the generic, cheaper brand of the precritions you take.

Change Your Drugs

If you missed the chance to find a better plan to cover your prescriptions, then you can always talk to your doctor about cheaper drug options. The Medicare Modernization Act requires that Medicare offer at least two drugs in each category class. What this means is that you can talk with your doctor and ask to take the alternative drug that costs lower.

Missing the Medicare open enrollment period can cause a lot of stress. EZ.Insure offers agents within your region to help you and answer any questions you may have. Our agents are highly trained to provide you the best option for your needs. The agents will provide you with Medicare Supplement quotes from top carriers in your area, and even help you sign up at no cost. To get quotes, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to an agent directly, email replies@ez.insure, or call 888-753-7207. Do not worry if you missed the OEP, we can help you get on the right track.

The end of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is right around the corner. From October 15 through December 7, Medicare beneficiaries have the ability to decide if they like what they have, or if they would like to switch. If you have what you want then great, but if you are not satisfied with it, or looking to save more, it is best to do your research and make a decision soon. After December 7, you will not be able to make any changes, or add a Medicare Supplement or Advantage plan.

During Medicare Annual Open Enrollment, you have different routes to choose that best fits your needs.

Review Your Coverage

You will be provided with a handbook for next year’s coverage for Medicare. Take a look at the coverage, prices, and benefits. If you are not happy, or think you may need more benefits, then looking into a Medicare Supplement of Advantage plan is important. You can compare the different plans and see which one will help you the most. But you can only add these plans during the annual enrollment period.

The same goes for your Medicare Advantage or Supplement plans, you will receive an Annual Notice of Change for your plan.

Changes You Can Make

Once you make any change to your current insurance, it will take effect on January 1st. So what can you do during this period? You can:

Join a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D Plan

Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

Buy a Medicare Supplement Plan depending on where you live.

Research your options ahead of time, so you can pick the best plan.

Research Your Options

Researching the different plans, and comparing the coverage and prices is a lot of work. You do not want to miss out on a great deal by overlooking or not doing enough research. Overlooking plans will cost you, but we will avoid that from happening. EZ.Insure compares plans of over 20 insurance carriers in your region. We compare all the plans and prices for you within seconds, and provide you with the information so you can choose the best option.

To receive instant quotes, you can enter your zip code in the bar above, or you can contact one of our highly trained agents. You will be given your own personal agent to work with, and not have to worry about jumping around agents. Your advisor will gather information and provide you with all of the plans available to you within your area. No obligation or fee. It is all done at no cost to you. Call 855-220-1144, or email us at replies@ez.insure to get started. Let us take care of you, the research, and the sign up process, for free!

Medicare covers thousands of seniors, and many of them are unaware of mistakes that can lead them to lose more money. It is important for retirees who are on a fixed income to try and save as much as possible. Not paying attention to a couple of key aspects of your Medicare policy can cost you.

If you do not sign up for Medicare on time, you will pay extra monthly fees.

Signing Up Late

The Initial Enrollment for Medicare begins three months prior to the month you turn 65, and the three months after that month. If you miss this seven month open window to sign up, you will get charged a late enrollment fee for Medicare Part B. This will cost you as much as 10% extra for every year that you were eligible for Medicare but did not sign up. The penalty will be a part of your Part B premiums forever. For example, the average premiums are $134, and with a 10 % penalty fee, you will be paying an extra $13.40 a month.

Missing the Annual Open Enrollment

Once enrolled in Medicare, it is important to re-enroll every year during Open Enrollment, October 15 through December 7. If you miss the annual open enrollment, then you will be forced to have the same plan for another year until the following open enrollment. This can cost you financially, and medically. Your current plan could not be covered by some doctors or in certain areas, and it might be more expensive than the previous year.

Not Using Free Preventive Care Services

Medicare offers preventive care services that are free, in order to help you stay healthy. You can receive one free

Medicare offers yearly wellness checks. Taking advantage of these will keep you healthy and catch early signs of a condition.

wellness visit a year and screenings to make sure you are healthy, and if not, then aware you of any issues. If you do not take advantage of these services, it will cost you a lot of money if large medical conditions arise.

Not Going Over Your Medicare Policy & Network

It is important to go over any policy that you have, whether traditional Medicare, a Medicare Supplement plan, or Medicare Advantage plan. Every year, these plans are subject to change within the rules, network coverage, and pricing. Premiums can go up significantly the following year and you may not be able to afford it. Or the network has changed and your doctor is no longer in network.

Never assume that certain healthcare expenses are covered by your policy. Call your insurance company to make sure you are aware of what is covered exactly.

If you have an HMO plan, then you are not able to go to any doctors outside of the network. If so, you will pay full price for that visit. With a PPO, you can go out of network; the plan will cover a small portion, still costing you a lot. Going over your network is key to making sure you remain within the network to avoid additional costs. Your insurance company will send you a directory of in network providers.

Not Looking Into Other Insurance

Many retirees will rely on traditional Medicare for their medical care, and do not look into other healthcare options such as Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage. It can save you a lot of money to look into these plans. They offer more coverage such as dental and vision, without paying a hefty price. Out-of-pocket expenses are limitless in traditional Medicare, but some plans in Medicare Advantage have an annual out-of-pocket spending limit. Medicare Advantage is essentially like traditional Medicare, but covers more, and may end up costing you less.

When it is time to retire, it is important to go over these common mistakes to save as much as you can during retirement. If you have questions, or need some guidance as to if a Medicare Supplement plan or Medicare Advantage is right for you, you can trust EZ.Insure to help. You can speak to your very own advisor for assistance by calling 888-753-7207 or emailing us at replies@ez.insure. Or if you would like an instant quote, enter your zip code in the bar above, it’s that easy.

Medicare is the nation’s largest health insurance program for adults 65 and older. It is used by over 57 million Americans, and at times there is a lot of confusion about how it all works. Misunderstanding how Medicare works can end up with you making costly mistakes.

There are a lot of myths seniors believe about Medicare. Find out the facts.

Myth: Medicare is free

Reality: The belief that Medicare is a government benefit, therefore seniors do not have to pay anything for it because they paid taxes. This is one of the biggest misconceptions because while Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services, has no premiums (as long as you paid Medicare taxes for 40 calendar quarters), Part B does.

Part B covers doctor visits and has a premium of $134 a month for new beneficiaries. The premiums are adjusted annually and can be as much as $428 for high-income beneficiaries. The premium is usually deducted from your Social Security benefits. If you sign up for a Medicare Part C Plan, also known as Medicare Advantage, you can also have a monthly premium for that depending on your plan..

Myth: Medicare will cover all health expenses

Reality: Medicare covers different types of healthcare, typically half of all medical and skilled nursing care expenses. Medicare Part A and B cover most hospital and medical expenses. But, there are a number of services that Medicare does not cover.

Medicare does not cover prescription drugs, standard dental, vision, or hearing care. For those services, you can choose to sign up for Medicare Advantage when the time permits, or purchase supplemental health insurance plan such as a Medicare Supplement plan. Medicare also does not cover long-term care, cosmetic surgery, or acupuncture.

Myth: Medicare enrollment is automatic when you turn 65

Reality: When you become 65, you are eligible for Medicare, but that does not mean you are automatically signed up for it. The only way to be automatically enrolled is if you are already receiving Social Security benefits before you turn 65, however Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and a prescription drug plans will still be up to you to enroll in.

If you are not receiving Social Security by the age 65, you will have to remember to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare, which is 3 months before you turn 65, the month of your 65th birthday, and the 3 months after that.

Not taking the time to learn the correct facts about Medicare coverage can cost you.

Myth: I can enroll in Medicare anytime

Reality: If you do not enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, there will be some restrictions as to when you can enroll, followed by a penalty. You must wait to enroll until the next enrollment period which is between October 15 and December 7.

The penalties for late enrollment will be that your monthly premium will go up by 10% for twice the number of years you could have been enrolled but weren’t. For example, if you missed the opportunity to sign up for Medicare Part A, and file for it 2 years after you were eligible, you will have to pay a higher premium for 4 years. As for Part B, the premium will go up 10% permanently for every year you missed since eligibility.

Myth: Everyone pays the same for Medicare

Reality: Medicare offers the same benefits for everyone, but not everyone pays the same price for it. How much you worked and how much your income is will determine how much your premiums and deductible will be.

If you did not earn 40 work credits over your lifetime, then Part A isn’t free. You will owe up to $411 a month for Part A. Medicare Part B depends on your gross income.

Myth: Poor health will disqualify you

Reality: You cannot be rejected from Medicare coverage for having poor health or pre-existing conditions. You will not have to pay more due to pre-existing conditions. The Affordable Care Act implemented a pre-existing clause so insurers must accept members regardless of their health.

Because Medicare is linked to Social Security, if you qualify for Social Security benefits, then you will qualify for Medicare as well. But you need to apply for coverage because as stated before, it is not automatic.

If you have questions about how Medicare works EZ.Insure can help. We hire agents who are trained specifically for medicare in your region. You will be given your own advisor who can go over all the different affordable plans and quotes with you, and even help you sign up. We offer all of this free of charge. To get started enter your zip code in the bar above, email replies@ez.insure, and call 855-220-1144.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. When you enroll in Medicare, it is important to understand how it works and whether or not you will need a Medicare Supplement plan to go with it. Once you pay your deductible, Medicare covers only 80% of your Part B expenses, leaving you to pay the rest. Medicare Supplement is an insurance plan that is sold by private companies. Medicare Supplement plans help pay for the 20% of the Medicare Part B costs which is left for you to pay.

Original Medicare, and Medicare Supplement plans cover different healthcare. It is important to go over each program, and what they offer in order to determine if a Medicare Supplement plan will benefit you.

How Medicare Works:

Every year, you must pay a set amount, a deductible, for your health care before Medicare pays its share. You can sign up for Part A and/or Part B insurance, but most people have both. You pay a monthly premium for Part B. Medicare only covers 80 percent of Part B services, leaving you with the other 20 percent to be paid out of pocket. Depending on your medical needs in a given year, that 20 percent gap can become a large financial burden.

For 2017, the Medicare Part A deductible is $1,316 a year, while Medicare Part B’s yearly deductible is $183. Once you have paid your deductible in health bills such as physician visits, outpatient hospital services, and covered medical equipment, then Medicare will pay cover the rest up to 80% for Part B, and 100% for Part A.

Medicare will cover annual wellness visits once a month.

What Medicare covers

Medicare benefits are divided into two parts, Part A and Part B.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)— covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, short-term nursing home care, hospice care, and some home health care. (100% of your costs for up to 60 days in a hospital or up to 20 days in a skilled nursing facility.)

What Medicare does not cover

Health care you get while traveling outside of the United States (Very limited exceptions)

Hearing aids, and most hearing exams

Long-term nursing home care for more than 100 days

Acupuncture, naturopathy, etc.

Most eyeglasses

Most dental care

Prescription drugs are not covered under Parts A and B, but it will cover some drugs in certain cases like immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients, and oral anti-cancer drugs. For prescription drug coverage, you should consider signing up for stand-alone Medicare Part D plan.

How Medicare Supplement Works:

There is a monthly premium for your Medicare supplement plan, and in return, the plan pays most of your expenses not covered by Medicare parts A & B. For example, if you have a $4,000 ambulance bill and have already met the yearly Medicare Part B deductible, Medicare Part B will pay 80% of the bill. This leaves you to pay the 20% that us left, $800, out of pocket. But if you have a Medicare Supplement plan that covers Part B copayments and coinsurance costs, then it will pay the $800 remaining.

The Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment period is the six-month period that starts on first day of the month that you are 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During the open enrollment period, you can enroll in any Medicare Supplement plan offered in your service area with guaranteed issue. This means that insurance companies are not allowed to deny you or charge you more due to pre-existing conditions. There are many different types of Medicare Supplement plans to choose from, and they vary in levels of coverage and cost.

What Medicare Supplement covers

Medicare Supplement will cover nursing facility costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days.

In general, all Medicare Supplement plans cover at least part of:

Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles

Skilled nursing facility costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days

Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used)

Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment

Part B excess charges

Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment

Blood (first 3 pints)

Some will cover:

Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)

Part B deductible

Two Medicare Supplement plans (Plan K and L) include an out-of-pocket limit. Once you have reached a certain amount spent on Medicare-covered services, the Medicare Supplement plan will cover 100% of the costs for the rest of the year.

What Medicare Supplement does not cover

Medicare Supplement policies generally do not cover:

Long-term care (care in a nursing home)

Routine vision or dental care

Hearing aids

Eyeglasses

Private-duty nursing.

Prescription drugs

Looking for more details or help?

There are roughly 10 different types of medicare supplement plans on the market, and they all vary in coverage and cost. Figuring out which plans are best for you can be hard, but we are here to help. If you would like to gather more information on Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans, one or our highly trained agents are ready to help.

You can start by simply entering your zip code in the bar above to get a quote, or you can contact us by email at Replies@Ez.Insure or call 855-220-1144. There is no hassle and no obligation. We will help you answer any questions, go over all of your plan options, find the Medicare Supplement plan most suited for your needs and budget, and even help you sign up if you’re ready. No hassle necessary! We work on your time and do not hound you with calls like the other guys.

Medicare Open Enrollment is the time someone can sign up for Medicare, or make a switch to another plan. Insurance companies can make changes to its Medicare plan every year to things such as drug costs, monthly premiums, and what providers and pharmacies are in their network. These changes affect how much money you will pay out of pocket. In order to save money and receive the best care for your needs, it is important to review changes to determine whether you want to keep that plan or switch to another.

When is Open Enrollment?

Medicare Open Enrollment occurs annually in the fall, from October 15 to December 7. If you enroll during the Open Enrollment Period in a new Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan, the coverage will begin January 1, 2018.

What can you do during Open Enrollment?

You can switch to Original Medicare Parts A and B with or without a Part D plan from a Medicare Advantage Plan during this time, or vice versa.

You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

You can switch from one Medicare Part D plan to another.

If you did not enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so during open enrollment, although a late enrollment penalty may apply.

Some Rules to Know

If you did not sign up for Medicare Parts A and B when you were first eligible, there is a time each year from January 1 to March 31 that you can sign up, with coverage effective July 1.

There is a penalty got enrolling late: For Medicare Part B, the penalty is an additional 10 percent of the premium for each 12 month period that you were eligible but not enrolled.

If you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, there are some criteria you must meet:

You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.

You must live in the service area of the plan.

You cannot have End-Stage Renal Disease (some exceptions apply)..

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, between January 1 and February 14, you can leave your plan and return to original Medicare. You cannot switch to another Advantage plan unless you meet the requirements of a Special Enrollment Period. After leaving your plan, you have until February 14 to enroll in a Part D plan which will begin the first day of the following month after you enroll.

Things to Consider

Make sure you have the best plan for your needs– When it is time to re-evaluate your Medicare plan, you should look through your Medicare & You handbook, “Evidence of Coverage” (EOC) and “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) to review your costs and benefits for the following year. If you are content with your Part D and Medicare Advantage plan, then you can keep it and it will automatically renew for the following year. If your plan is not eligible for renewal due to being discounted, then you will be notified with a non-renewal notice from your insurance company prior to open enrollment.

You can save money and get better drug coverage– You might want to take a closer look at your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan and make sure it is in network with your doctors, hospital and pharmacy. You should make sure your current plan is providing you with the best option and the lowest out of pocket expense. Research shows that the average consumer can annually save $300 or more if they review their Part D coverage. By shopping around for other plans, you can find one in your area with fewer restrictions and lower costs.

Many times, a plan’s coverage will change from one year to the next. So if you picked a plan last year because it was the best option for you, it is very important you confirm that it is again the best option before you renew it for another year. To make sure that your current plan is the best option for you financially and medically, it is important to check any changes made to your Medicare plan, and understand how they affect you.

If you need help reviewing your plan options before Open Enrollment is over, EZ.Insure can help. At EZ.Insure we will pair you one on one with one of our highly trained agents in your area. We will help you choose the best plan available for you, and answer any questions you may have. No hassle, no obligation, and no charge. You can’t find a better deal! Whenever you are ready to start saving, contact us by email at Replies@ez.insure or call 855-220-1144.